Czechoslovakia

What was life in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s?

• Communist country
• People dissapointed with standards of living
• Wanted to vote frely
• All aspects of media highly controlled
• People feared the secret police
• People started protesting

What reforms were introduced?

• Alexander Dubcek became the leader of the Czech Communist Party
• Proposed a policy of "Socialism with a human face"
• Introduced several reforms
• These reforms are known as the Prague Spring

Prague Spring

• Powers of secret police reduced
• End of press censorship
• Free elections
• Opposition parties allowed
• Freedom to travel abroad
• Plans to increase trade with the west
• Competition encouraged
• Less state involvement with everyday life
• Providing of basic human rights
• Increased standard of living

How did the USSR respond?

• USSR tried to slow Dubcek's reforms
• Soviet troops began to train and set up military camps on the Czech border
• Soviets considered economic sanctions but did not have the money to do so
• Warsaw Pact countries put pressure on Czechoslovakia
• On the 20th August 1968, USSR moved tanks into Czechoslovakia
• Dubcek removed from power but not executed to prevent uprisings/protests
• USSR issues the Brezhnev Doctrine

Brezhnev Doctrine

• Warsaw Pact countries were not allowed to abandon Communism
• If they do, USSR would invade